Evidence-Based Medicine in judicial decisions concerning right to healthcare

ABSTRACT Objective To analyze, from the examination of decisions issued by Brazilian courts, how Evidence-Based Medicine was applied and if it led to well-founded decisions, searching the best scientific knowledge. Methods The decisions made by the Federal Courts were searched, with no time limi...

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Main Authors: Eduardo Rocha Dias, Geraldo Bezerra da Silva Junior
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert Einstein
Series:Einstein (São Paulo)
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-45082016000100002&lng=en&tlng=en
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author Eduardo Rocha Dias
Geraldo Bezerra da Silva Junior
author_facet Eduardo Rocha Dias
Geraldo Bezerra da Silva Junior
author_sort Eduardo Rocha Dias
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Objective To analyze, from the examination of decisions issued by Brazilian courts, how Evidence-Based Medicine was applied and if it led to well-founded decisions, searching the best scientific knowledge. Methods The decisions made by the Federal Courts were searched, with no time limits, at the website of the Federal Court Council, using the expression “Evidence-Based Medicine”. With regard to decisions issued by the court of the State of São Paulo, the search was done at the webpage and applying the same terms and criterion as to time. Next, a qualitative analysis of the decisions was conducted for each action, to verify if the patient/plaintiff’s situation, as well as the efficacy or inefficacy of treatments or drugs addressed in existing protocols were considered before the court granted the provision claimed by the plaintiff. Results In less than one-third of the decisions there was an appropriate discussion about efficacy of the procedure sought in court, in comparison to other procedures available in clinical guidelines adopted by the Brazilian Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde) or by private health insurance plans, considering the individual situation. The majority of the decisions involved private health insurance plans (n=13, 68%). Conclusion The number of decisions that did consider scientific evidence and the peculiarities of each patient was a concern. Further discussion on Evidence-Based Medicine in judgments involving public healthcare are required.
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spelling doaj.art-a39becc650b845d89398f96949d60cc62022-12-22T02:22:16ZengInstituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert EinsteinEinstein (São Paulo)2317-63851411510.1590/S1679-45082016AO3363S1679-45082016000100002Evidence-Based Medicine in judicial decisions concerning right to healthcareEduardo Rocha DiasGeraldo Bezerra da Silva JuniorABSTRACT Objective To analyze, from the examination of decisions issued by Brazilian courts, how Evidence-Based Medicine was applied and if it led to well-founded decisions, searching the best scientific knowledge. Methods The decisions made by the Federal Courts were searched, with no time limits, at the website of the Federal Court Council, using the expression “Evidence-Based Medicine”. With regard to decisions issued by the court of the State of São Paulo, the search was done at the webpage and applying the same terms and criterion as to time. Next, a qualitative analysis of the decisions was conducted for each action, to verify if the patient/plaintiff’s situation, as well as the efficacy or inefficacy of treatments or drugs addressed in existing protocols were considered before the court granted the provision claimed by the plaintiff. Results In less than one-third of the decisions there was an appropriate discussion about efficacy of the procedure sought in court, in comparison to other procedures available in clinical guidelines adopted by the Brazilian Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde) or by private health insurance plans, considering the individual situation. The majority of the decisions involved private health insurance plans (n=13, 68%). Conclusion The number of decisions that did consider scientific evidence and the peculiarities of each patient was a concern. Further discussion on Evidence-Based Medicine in judgments involving public healthcare are required.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-45082016000100002&lng=en&tlng=enMedicina Baseada em EvidênciasDireito à SaúdeSaúde/legislação & jurisprudência
spellingShingle Eduardo Rocha Dias
Geraldo Bezerra da Silva Junior
Evidence-Based Medicine in judicial decisions concerning right to healthcare
Einstein (São Paulo)
Medicina Baseada em Evidências
Direito à Saúde
Saúde/legislação & jurisprudência
title Evidence-Based Medicine in judicial decisions concerning right to healthcare
title_full Evidence-Based Medicine in judicial decisions concerning right to healthcare
title_fullStr Evidence-Based Medicine in judicial decisions concerning right to healthcare
title_full_unstemmed Evidence-Based Medicine in judicial decisions concerning right to healthcare
title_short Evidence-Based Medicine in judicial decisions concerning right to healthcare
title_sort evidence based medicine in judicial decisions concerning right to healthcare
topic Medicina Baseada em Evidências
Direito à Saúde
Saúde/legislação & jurisprudência
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-45082016000100002&lng=en&tlng=en
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